Coronavirus: Morocco to suspend intercity bus travels, most train connections, domestic flights

Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior announced Saturday the suspension of all intercity bus travels, starting Tuesday, March 24, at midnight, the National Railways Office (ONCF) announced the same day that it will suspend all train connections with the exception of some proximity trains, while the national carrier suspended all its domestic flights.

People were also banned from travelling between cities aboard either private or public means of transport as of Saturday March 21 at midnight.

The ban does not concern the transport of goods and basic products, which is carried out normally to meet the daily needs of citizens. The ban does not concern either travel for health or professional reasons.

 

The decisions come after Morocco decreed a state of health emergency that came into effect Friday at 6 p.m. to limit citizens’ movement in cities and villages across the country and thus prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Regarding the suspension of intercity bus travels, the Interior Ministry called on local authorities and intercity transport companies to take the necessary measures to suspend travels and make sure the buses return to their home bases before the suspension goes into effect.

The ministry also urged transport companies to have their buses available in case local authorities need to requisition them.

The ONCF announced that it will suspend all railway connections, as of Monday at 11.59 p.m. with the exception of some specific destinations.

ONCF will thus provide a minimum service on some proximity trains linking Casablanca to Rabat and Kenitra; Casablanca to Mohammed V Airport; and Casablanca to Settat and El Jadida for people who commute on these lines to go to work.

Only the commuters officially authorized to go out to work will be allowed to board the trains, as stipulated by the Ministry of Interior.

Royal Air Maroc announced the suspension of all its domestic flights, until further notice, in compliance with the state of health emergency.

 

Morocco took a set of preventive measures to limit the propagation of the virus. After it suspended air and maritime connections and closed land borders, Morocco, as of Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m., ordered the closure of all public venues considered “non-essential”, such as cafés and restaurants, gyms, hammams (public baths), cinemas, and other gathering spaces. It cancelled sporting events and all cultural, artistic, music and religious festivals.

Also beginning Monday, March 16, classes in all educational public and private institutions, from kindergartens to universities, have been cancelled until further notice. Lessons are provided online or via TV.

Part of these anticipatory measures, Morocco has purchased the entire stock of Nivaquine, an antimalarial drug, whose tests on patients infected with the coronavirus proved encouraging. French RFI, which reported the information Saturday, said Moroccan authorities bought all the stock of Nivaquine, produced by Sanofi laboratories in their Casablanca factories.

 

According to RFI, Morocco has ordered additional quantities of Nivaquine from Sanofi laboratories.

Moroccan authorities are taking these precautionary measures as the number of COVID-19 cases in Morocco is increasing. According to the tally of Saturday March 21, Morocco recorded 96 confirmed cases, including three fatalities. Three patients have totally recovered.

At a press briefing last week, the Minister of Health, Khalid Ait Taleb, said some local cases have started to appear, rather than patients carrying the virus from abroad as with the previous cases.

“The coming days will be decisive,” he had said, urging people to focus on respecting all precautions to avoid the proliferation of the virus.

He said Morocco will move into the second phase if the number of cases exceeds 500.

Globally, Coronavirus infected 306,892 persons and killed 13,025.